Toshiba adds 3G to the featherweight Portege R500

Forget the MacBook Air: those folks seeking the absolute lightest notebooks on the planet know that Windows machines are still the only way to go, and Toshiba has proven that once again with an official 3G upgrade to the already impressive Portege R500. According to Akihabara News (which seems to be a little confused concerning the model number here), two new 12.1-inch, HSDPA-equipped configurations will be available this month: the ultra-lightweight (and ultra-pricey) R500-11J, highlighted by a 64GB SSD drive and impressive 1.72-pound package, and the cheaper, optical drive-packing R500-11I, which features the same 1.20GHz U7600 CPU and 2GB of RAM, but introduces a less appealing 120GB HDD. Pricing should be around €2,500 ($3,658) for the high-end 11J and €2,050 ($3,000 even) for the heavier 11I.

[Sense @ Mar 30th 2008 8:11PM]

Now seriously .. from 42 reviews the only one is TDG. When there is a comment can everyone everywhere please stick to the subject rather than sarcasm. If you don't have the laptop why comment ?

[boe @ Jan 21st 2008 10:08AM]

This would be fine if it came with a 2.2 or higher Core2 processor.

[Za @ Jan 21st 2008 1:37PM]

I guess you don't understand the purpose of an ultraportable? Or that a single core Pentium M 1.6GHz was about equivalent to a 3.2GHz P4 in business apps?

[boe @ Jan 21st 2008 1:52PM]

Za - I guess you don't understand the point of my post - if it isn't fast enough for me, it isn't fast enough - PERIOD. If I said I wish it had a 17" screen, a 500GB hard drive, a 512mb video card, and a 14 hour battery it might be that I don't understand the purpose of an ultraportable. If I said I wish it had a faster processor that takes up no more space - perhaps you are a bit narrowminded in your view of what is possible.

[OneLove @ Jan 21st 2008 9:52AM]

cant wait to see the comments.

[StrangeBum @ Jan 21st 2008 10:32AM]

No kidding. Blatant Apple bash in the post at hand. Which is surprisingly refreshing though from them always sucking Apple off. Not that I'm a Windows fanboy or anything though. Yeah, I've got Vista, but I also run Ubuntu and Fedora and plan on picking up a MacBook Pro in the next few months. So I'm in no way biased, I plan on using each machine for dedicated tasks.

Now, about the laptop here. Damn expensive machines, but I do love Toshiba laptops. But these processor speeds clock pretty low compared to so many other machines in the same range. Loving seeing those SSD drives included in computers now though, just can't wait for the prices to drop.

[Alfred @ Jan 21st 2008 2:52PM]

of course you can...

[szamot @ Jan 21st 2008 9:58AM]

now all it needs is OS X on it and I am all over it or at least XP. Vista will just slowly kill this thing. Other than that it seems like a really nice package.

[tcardone05 @ Jan 21st 2008 11:16AM]

Never used vista, have you?

[szamot @ Jan 21st 2008 2:38PM]

Well you are right I never really "USED" Vista. Had it installed for about 3 weeks, it kept dying and freezing and crashing, so technically I never really got to use it that much. It is more of a case of " I had it installed but did not use it much" type of thing.

Come to think of it I think I would much rather chew glass or read Jane Austin than to "use" Vista to tell you the truth, but I am sure this opinion will vary.

[Tony @ Jan 21st 2008 6:12PM]

hm... because i've been using Vista since it was released (give or take a few weeks) and i dont think my computer has EVER crashed because of it... As far as I'm concerned, vista works just like XP did on my computer, but looks a whole lot cooler... plus i dont have to live with the self regret of being an apple fanboy

[[e-mail] @ Jan 21st 2008 9:59AM]

ok, here are the downfalls

unnecessary CD/DVD drive
lack of styling
lack of mac osx

lack of apple logo

oh, but it has 3g... thats great but with a $30 usb dongle the macbook air does too

[[e-mail] @ Jan 21st 2008 9:59AM]

ok im not that much of a fanboy, most of that was sarcasm before you berage me with hate-replies.

[Michael S @ Jan 21st 2008 10:22AM]

OMG, USB dongles are soooo last year.

[spam_from_engadget @ Jan 21st 2008 12:56PM]

Some of the R500 models leave out the optical drive, saving a couple of hundred grams or so.

[Jon @ Jan 21st 2008 2:30PM]

Your sarcasm needs working.

[Jack Storm @ Jan 21st 2008 4:02PM]

I keep seeing your posts.
some of the worsts posts ever, which to me makes you the
worst 'poster' ever.

[Jordan @ Jan 22nd 2008 10:02PM]

Now there's something you don't see every day, incorrect grammar in an e-mail address:

"[e-mail]"

HILARIOUS!

[dhelle @ Jan 21st 2008 10:15AM]

I myself self don't care about adding a 3G modem to a notebook. It just add to cost. Most of the phone today is 3G capable. You could always get 3G or HSDPA from your phone. Be it through USB cable or through Bluetooth. One account to use for all your gadgets that needs 3G through your cellphone.

[Kizorblade @ Jan 21st 2008 10:16AM]

"Forget the MacBook Air: those folks seeking the absolute lightest notebooks on the planet know that Windows machines are still the only way to go"

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/bootcamp.html

My head hurts =(

Anyway, that aside... 1.72 pounds? That's almost nothing!

[Tony @ Jan 21st 2008 6:19PM]

I'm sick of everyone talking about bootcamp! Most mac fanboys and users* (see fanboy) always say they love OSX. So why would i buy a mac and use windows on it? That defeats the whole purpose. There are SO many more options for windows PCs at a lot better prices. I wouldnt ever buy a computer just for how it looks....

[Josh* @ Jan 21st 2008 10:26AM]

1.72 pounds? It's hardly even there!

Wouldn't choose it over the Air, however: I needs me some Apply stylin', plus some OSX+XP Mc Lovin.

[Josh* @ Jan 21st 2008 10:27AM]

Apple*

[Zach @ Jan 21st 2008 1:38PM]

giant fail..

[Josh* @ Jan 21st 2008 3:13PM]

Hey, no one's forcing ya to buy it. Cheers

[rawhead @ Jan 21st 2008 11:40AM]

Of course, if Apple had released essentially the same thing as this, the haterz would have absolutely been all over it regarding its

a. price
b. very underpowered CPU
c. butt ugly design
d. cramped keyboard
e. did I mention price?


What's different about haterz and, e.g., me, is that while I wouldn't consider buying this in a thousand years, I won't go around preaching what a piece of shit this is, just because it doesn't suit my wants/needs regarding the points above (not to mention Vista).

[Kizorblade @ Jan 21st 2008 12:57PM]

Yeah, also don't forget the backlit keyboard. Everyone loves those.

Also, Toshiba needs to convert their measurements properly:
"No matter what Mister Jobs says, Toshiba claims to have the thinnest and lightest laptop in the world (779g and 25.5mm)." from the linked article

25.5mm = Just over an inch.

[Andrew @ Jan 21st 2008 10:27AM]

It may be super light, but it's an entire quarter of an inch thicker! How can you possibly use something so bulky?

[StrangeBum @ Jan 21st 2008 10:39AM]

SARCASM DETECTED

(insert obligatory anti-sarcastic response. caps welcome)
[space]
(insert obligatory smiley emoticon here)

[bluvg @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:24PM]

It's 0.77"... so that's a whole 0.01" thicker than the MBA.

[xv @ Jan 21st 2008 10:33AM]

"Portege" sounds too much like like "port-o-let" to me. I wouldn't want to carry around something that reminds me of a smelly outhouse.

[Alan Strangis @ Jan 21st 2008 10:38AM]

As opposed to the old iBooks that actually LOOKED like candy coated toilet seat covers? ;)

http://www.lksd.org/ibook/images/3ibooks.jpg

[dziban303 @ Jan 21st 2008 11:15AM]

Looks to me like somebody misspelled protégé.

[DT @ Jan 21st 2008 11:52AM]

Wait, and people complained about $1799 being too expensive for the MBA?

[mark d @ Jan 21st 2008 1:02PM]

Yes the MBA is too expensive at $1799. You're forgetting that the R500 is a true ultra-portable and is also a fully functional laptop.

At best the MBA is worth $600. It's nothing more than a glorified Eee PC.

[josh @ Jan 21st 2008 1:04PM]

I don't see people flocking to purchase these things (being that the R500 has been available for a while now), so I think the market has already complained it to niche status on account of its price. It isn't exactly toshiba's best selling machine. I think it is more bragging rights than anything.

Of course once you say the word SSD kiss price conscious considerations goodbye regardless of manufacturer.

[DT @ Jan 21st 2008 1:09PM]

@ mark d

Glorified Eee PC? With a 13.3" LED screen, backlit keyboard, 80GB HD, 2GB RAM, BT, 802.11n, full OS X implementation? Riiiiight...

It may be expensive, but you're deluding yourself if you think it's only a little better than the Eee PC.

[Jon @ Jan 21st 2008 2:32PM]

Functionality wise the Macbook Air isn't the best. Hell you can't even play DVDs....

[Andrew @ Jan 21st 2008 1:05PM]

I love my Portege R100 but these R500 are, in my opinion, ugly. They are made of what looks and feels like the cheapest of the cheap silver plastic. I do want my laptop to at least look respectable if not good but R500 looks and maybe more importantly FEELS like bottom-rung no-name clearance special. If you are considering buying, please go to a brick and mortar to check them out and don't just rely on pictures.

Also, the 1.2GHz is way too slow even for ultraportable. I can't shake a feeling it would be only marginally faster than my 4 year old 900 MHz (I know this one is dual core but still). And still a crappy LCD screen, likely no better than what I have. Overall R500 just doesn't scream "must have", yet the price is up there. I would personally wait for R600.

[BloodyGerman @ Jan 21st 2008 3:30PM]

Well i have read reviews that the build quality is a bit sub-standard for this price class. For sure a nice "concept laptop" to demonstrate how you can build a lightweight. Anyone really bought this thing? How long does it survive every day usage.

I thought about this laptop, but decided that maybe a few hundred grams more (sub 1.5kg class) and saving nearly 1kg would be the better solution. Maybe waiting for the Lenovo X300 (if the leaked specs are true) or buying the HP 2510p...

[TDG @ Jan 21st 2008 4:16PM]

I've got an R500 with Vista Business. 99% of it is fine, fast enough, carry it back/forth work/home every day, travel out of the office 1/month and carry it from my office to meeting every day. No durability issues. Great battery life (5+ hours with WiFi on). Vista, however...ugh. Left alone on the AC for a couple of hours and the HDD refuses to spin back up, requiring a cold, power button off and the corresponding troubles when restarting - a few times/day. Since it requires 1-2 hrs of nonuse to trigger the behavior, debugging has been near impossible. I have the likely things addressed (never power down, never power the HDD down, but still...). And I called Toshiba for the XP downgrade and they refused, saying that my machine wasn't capable of running XP. Huh?

[Craig @ Jan 21st 2008 8:06PM]

Gah! If anyone here actually selects their notebook based on (a) how it looks or (b) its name, they deserve to be flogged with USB cables and fed to shrieking eels. I mean, seriously, how shallow can you be?

[BobTurbo @ Jan 22nd 2008 12:20AM]

The colour silver should just be banned from the Earth.